Courmayeur is a charming alpine village on the Italian side of Mont Blanc. Right at the end of Aosta Valley, it is also the last town before crossing from Italy to France via the Mont Blanc Tunnel. If you are planning to do the Tour du Mont Blanc hike, you can either start from here or start from Chamonix and reach the middle of the trek here. Although it’s not mandatory to take a break when doing the TMB from Chamonix, taking a rest day might be a great boost of morale and a good opportunity to enjoy the local amenities.
Skyway Monte Bianco Cable Car
One of the most spectacular cablecar rides in the Alps, the Skyway Monte Bianco takes you from Courmayeur (1,224m) up to the Pavillon du Mont Frety (The Mountain Station, 2,173 m) and Punta Helbronner (The Sky Station, 3,466 m).
At the middle station you can find a large terrace that rewards you with a 180° view of Mont Blanc and Val Veny. Inside the station you can find a bar, a restaurant, and even a private cinema hall, that sometimes hosts public or private events. Another highlight of the Pavillon station is the Cave Mont Blanc, that offers unique experiments with winemaking at high altitudes, especially sparkling wine. The combination of altitude, atmospheric pressure and temperature give the sparkling wine some very rare characteristics. In the rooms of the old station you can find Hangar 2173, a small museum like place filled with the history and prestige of the old cable cars. If the weather is good, don’t forget to visit the alpine botanical garden, with its 900 species from all over the world.
Once you reach the upper station of Skyway Monte Bianco – Punta Helbronner / The Sky, you can enjoy a 360° panorama from the circular terrace. The station also has a crystal room filled with a big variety of crystals, a glass room (Sky Vertigo) where you can enjoy the feeling of walking in the void and the Kartell Bistrot Panoramic, where you can enjoy a drink and a lunch at high altitude.
Baita La Suche
Baita La Suche (also known as Alessio Allegri Chalet) is an alpine pasture hut located on a beautiful balcony close to Courmayeur and offers a great view of the Mont Blanc range. At a height of 1,816m, the hut can be accessed from Ermitage through a 50-60 minutes walk.
The Alpine Museum
Located right in the center of Courmayeur, the Alpine Museum was opened in 1929 and it’s full of objects, photographs and stories about the evolution of mountaineering and mountain guides’ activities.
Dollone
Right across the river from the city center lies the cosy old village of Dollone. Home to the Courmayeur Sports Centre, one of the most well equipped sports facilities in Europe, Dollone is filled with old buildings and picturesque narrow alleys.
